Wallenda hopes to wirewalk across U.S. 41 on bayfront

Aerialist Nik Wallenda wants to wirewalk across U.S. 41 by the city's bayfront and deliver a “postcard from Sarasota that'll go all around the world.”

And as with last year's high-wire adventure at Niagara Falls, he offers reassurances for the squeamish.

“If they have any issues about stopping traffic, that's OK, they can keep it moving below, it won't bother me,” said the 33-year-old Sarasota native Tuesday.

Wallenda, whose white-knuckle walk from the U.S. to Canada over Horseshoe Falls enthralled global audiences in June, hopes to do the stunt over U.S. 41 by the end of the month, provided he gets cleared by the City of Sarasota and the state Department of Transportation.

If Wallenda gets the green light, he plans to wirewalk from a crane platform positioned near the “Unconditional Surrender” statue to the roof of the Marina Tower condo on the opposite side of U.S. 41, at 1233 N. Gulfstream Ave. The tentative date is Jan. 28 or Jan. 29.

“I love that spot,” said Wallenda of the vista from Marina Tower. “From there, you can see Bird Key, Longboat, St. Armands Circle, the beautiful water, Ringling Bridge — I want to show off this city.”

In addition to acquiring the city's formal approval, Wallenda will also need the Florida Department of Transportation to sign on. DOT spokesperson Debbie Tower said, “We do have the permit application, and if everything is in order, I think we'll move on it very, very soon.”

Should the government cooperate, Wallenda's hometown skywalk will strongly resemble the scope of the last one he completed in 2010, when he eased from the One Watergate condos to the Ritz-Carlton high-rise in just 12 minutes. His proposed walk will cross roughly 600 feet of open space at a height of 180 to 200 feet.

Not coincidentally, the spectacle will promote Wallenda's appearance at Circus Sarasota, which opens Jan. 25. It will also foreshadow his televised date with a Grand Canyon wirewalk, to be staged in June at a Navajo reservation in Arizona.

The TV network has yet to make an official announcement, but Wallenda says his contract frees him from having to wear a safety harness, which he was legally obligated to strap on by ABC's network lawyers for the Niagara Falls walk. The anticipated Sarasota skywalk, like all others in the family tradition, will be attempted without a net.

A six-time Guinness world record holder for aerial feats, Wallenda says he would like to work the local crowds either in the morning, or at lunchtime “so the whole city can come out and watch.

“This place is awesome. From the top of Marina Tower, cameras can take in the whole showcase.”